First there was the river...
Before man walked these lands,
before he tilled the soil and ground his corn,
before he took the stream to power his mills
and irrigate his land,
the water flowed unchecked
from unnamed hills to unnamed sea.

Where did they come from, these first men and women?
Dressed, as we suppose, in animal skins
and chipping out their tools from flints.
-These you see here found locally at Trottsford
before the sandpits scooped away the evidence.

Stone age turned to bronze age, and bronze age to iron age;
we wove cloth, we farmed the land, we husbanded,
we created hamlets and communities;
and here, on rising ground above the river
-ground cleared from the surrounding waste-
we can imagine our 'heath-lea' was created.

Veni, Vidi, Vici! Caesar came, he saw, he conquered. The Romans came to Britain and remained for many generations.
And centuries later, the rector in Headley made the following comments in a letter to his famous contemporary, Gilbert White of Selborne ...

Reverend Sir,

Out of a large pot of Medals which were found in Wulmere pond, I collected a regular series from Claudius Drusus to Commodus included; that is, Medals of all the Roman Emperors from A.D. 43 to A.D. 194. Vespasian, a General under Claudius Drusus, about A.D. 47, marched down with a Roman Army this way, from the parts where London now is, towards Porchester, South Hampton and the Isle of Wight. It is beautiful on Headley Heath and Common to observe the Entrenchments of the Romans and Britons over against each other; the first advancing, the other retreating. The Romans crossed Headley River at Standford, and advanced to the place which now is Wulmere pond; and there fixed an abiding Station or City, which remained for near 150 years. Great treasures even now lye buried in that pond....

The Roman empire rose-the Roman Empire fell; and in came the barbarians. Angles, Saxons and Jutes brought customs and culture of their own - then the Danes and Norsemen invaded. In 1066 and all that, the Normans arrived to stay ...

So why 'Waltzing Matilda'?

Because the new king's wife was called Matilda, and for many years afterwards it seems that if you wanted to be queen of England, you had to be called Matilda-until one day we found we had a Queen Eleanor instead, and our king was Henry of Anjou PA: sound of wine bottle being opened

-and 845 years later, the Angevins are back! [Narrator 2 then moves to Church float]

The centuries rolled by, but some things never change:-

1381 Peasants' Revolt in protest at poll tax

1382 New English Bible published

1389 Battle of Kossovo - Serbs defeated

Here in Headley at this time we were building the church tower, and at about the same time Geoffrey Chaucer was writing his Canterbury Tales.

In Headley village, high above ye brooke
Which trickles down the valley from Liphook,
Did men construct with mortar, stone and hod
A tower in glory of Almighty God.

Of local stone they raised it to the sky,
Three storeys with a belfry on high
Topped with a steeple, and, lest we forget,
The rector then was Thomas Aumenet.

Now why the tower was built, we cannot say:
Perhaps the Rector won ye lottery;
Perhaps, to try and earn himself an earldom,
He built a better one than at East Worldham,

For it is said, and this the sooth I tell,
One Geoffrey Chaucer there perchance did dwell,
And he, while penning all his naughty rhymes,
Was also servant to the King betimes.

So who can tell? Did Thomas hope to gain
His place among the writings of the thane?
But if he tried, we also know he failed-
For in ye book there is no Rector's Tale.

At this time, Dick Whittington became Lord Mayor of London - and we've had pantomimes ever since!

A hundred and thirty years later, in 1520, in the reign of King Henry VIII, the Rector, John Fyshe, granted his Churchwardens a piece of land on the condition that they built a new house for use of the Church for recreation, on the payment of 5s.6d per annum - The Parish House, now Suters in Headley High Street. [Narrator 2 then moves to front of stage]

In 1538 Thomas Cromwell issued his famous Injunctions of which the twelfth reads: 'Item, that you and every parson, vicar or curate within the Diocese, shall for every Church keep one book or register, wherein ye shall write the day and year of every wedding, christening and burying made in your parish for your time, and so every man succeeding you likewise, and also there insert every person's name that shall be so wedded, christened or buried.' Next year, the first church records were kept in Headley ...

"Anno Domini 1539. De Maritatis. The 1st daye off July was marryed Robert Hardyng and Kateryn Woolffe." [Narrator 2 then moves to Holme School float]

Robert Harding lived at Plaster Hill Farm. In a list compiled at around that time, there were some 60 houses scattered around Headley parish - including buildings in Grayshott, Barford, Standford, Linsted and Headley Street itself.

For the first time tonight, ladies & gentlemen, I come to regale you with facts and figures. Who am I?
I am the Census Man. And in 1539, I didn't exist! But I'm not going to let a little thing like that get in my way. Sixty houses the man said - and how many people in each house do you suppose? Two adults, two-point-five children and half a dog? I think not. They had lots more children in those days for a start, and grandma and grandpa probably lived in too. So, I'm going to say five or six people to a house, on average. Would you go along with that? Yes? So, who's good at arithmetic? There's sixty houses with five people in each - how many people? [300] - and if there were six people in each? [360]. So, let's say upwards of 350 people in 1539.

"Give us back our 11 days!"

What's all this? -In 1752, the Julian calendar was dropped, and the Gregorian calendar was adopted - and Sept 3rd was followed by Sept 14th. People felt they had been cheated of 11 days of their life.

And three years later, in 1755, George Holme, our rector, starts the school which still bears his name - "for teaching and instructing twelve poor children of either sex in reading, writing and arithmetic". Girls were also taught sewing and knitting. Any number could attend the school, but only twelve could benefit from the Charity; the rest had to pay: Labourers 2d, Journeymen 3d, Tradesmen 4d, Farmers 9d per week, with a reduction for each additional child. [Narrator 2 then moves in front of stage]

The first national census was held in 1801. The Government of the day was concerned about the rate of population increase, and decided it needed to take a simple count of heads every ten years. According to this census, the population of Headley parish in 1801 was 858.

On a gravestone in the Churchyard is written: 'In memory of Anne the wife of Henry WHITE who departed this life January 18, 1807 aged 76 years. Her death was occasioned by the bite of a mad dog.'
PA: Dog barking

By the time of the third national census, held in 1821, the population of Headley parish had risen above the thousand mark for the first time.

Narrator 2 (from in front of stage)

William Cobbett also predicted unrest among the farm labourers in the south of England - and in the autumn of 1830 he was proved right. In that year, the so-called 'Swing Riots' swept from Kent in the east to Wiltshire in the west, and on 23rd November, it was Headley's turn. This is how John Lickfold describes what he saw when the Workhouse was ransacked that day. [Narrator 2 then moves back to the Church float]

And who would have guessed then that, almost a century and a half later, the same house would become the cradle to one of the world's most popular pop songs.

And in the year following the riot, the population in the census had risen to 1,228.

"On Ascension Day, May 12th 1836, the Porch of the Church was injured, the spire and interior of the Tower destroyed by fire. Divine Providence was pleased to arrest the further progress of the flames. Praise ye the Lord." The fire had broken out in a shed close by the Church, owing to some straw catching alight from matches which some children had been playing with.

Mr Henry Knight told Mr. Laverty that he was on the roof assisting to extinguish the flames though his friends tried to persuade him to come down. By-and-by the shingle of the spire had all burnt away leaving only a solitary upright iron rod on which the vane was. So in order to prevent this from falling on the roof, the people below fired bullets at the vane, but with no effect, for it fell into the old gallery and of course set it on fire. [Narrator 2 then moves to the Cricket Club float]

I'm going to move you on by 40 years. Another 350 or so added to the population.

And the following year, we had a new rector. A young man called Mr Laverty. [Narrator 1 then moves to the Horticultural Soc float]

When news arrived that a young man was coming as Rector, certain people expressed a fear that being young and coming from Oxford, he would be dreadfully 'high church'. This feeling was not diminished when on the Rector's arrival he cleaned up the Church and put a little colour on the walls, but Mr. Bettesworth, the Churchwarden, said, "The world wags, and Mr. Laverty's a young man, and you can't expect him to stand still like an old man as Mr. Dykes". The "young man" got to work at once.
In November 1872 the 'Monthly Illustrated Journal' was begun, and this, under various names, has continued to be issued ever since. [Holds up a current copy of the Parish Magazine]

[Narrator 2 then moves to the RL entrance]

From "A Cup for Cricket" by Theo Pope:
'The Rectory Field on a hot summer's day, with buttercups thick in the outfield and sloping down to the long, rather narrow table in the centre, The Holme School at the bottom end of the ground and, beyond, the village green and the pine trees rising from the hills with distant cottages barely visible through the shimmering haze. Most cricketers who have visited Headley will recall that picture. And, looking up from the pitch, the old Parish Church in the background with the clock on the tower chiming the hours, the rather unsightly pavilion with players and spectators crowding the verandah, the little teashop behind, with cups tinkling, and the landlord leaning over the fence of the Holly Bush garden. At one end, the tall holly hedge right behind the bowler's arm; at the other the magnificent horse chestnut on the boundary, a challenge to every hitter. The game, like the tree, had its roots in Headley well over a century ago, and the club is one of the oldest in the district.'

In 1885, the Horticultural Society was founded, and two years later we celebrated Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

On Tuesday the residents of Headley celebrated Her Majesty's Jubilee by holding a very successful festival in the Rectory grounds. On the same occasion the Foresters, Court Forget-me-Not, held their fifth anniversary at the same place. It can thus be easily understood by those who know the energy and zeal that the Headley people always display when they put their hands to any undertaking of this character that the festivities of Tuesday gave satisfaction to all. Indeed, it was such a day of merrymaking and general rejoicing as has rarely if ever taken place in this parish before.

The village was tastefully decorated with flags, banners, and evergreens, and loyal mottoes were displayed in prominent positions. Venetian poles were placed on each side of the thoroughfare in High Street, from which were suspended festoons of flags of every colour and nationality. Bunting was also displayed from the Church tower, and the Rectory windows. Mr. W. Rogers' place of business, which faces down the street, attracted general admiration for its artistic decoration of flags, evergreens, and a conspicuous portrait of the Queen over the main entrance. The Holly Bush Inn, a short distance away, was also decorated with foliage, and both made up a very pretty rural scene.

In 1890, it is recorded that a Bath chair was bought for parish use ...

... (ad lib according to how the spirit moves!) [Narrator 2 then moves to the Parish Council float]

In 1891 the population of the parish had risen to 1,783.

In September of that year, the Chestnut Tree was planted on the triangle - site of the old stocks - by the Rector, Mr Laverty, the butcher, Mr Wakeford, and the landlord of the Holly Bush, Mr Kenyon.

The first Parish Meeting under the Local Government Act was held in the Schoolroom, on December 4th, 1894. There were 18 candidates for 12 seats, and a poll took place on Monday, December 17th. [Narrator 2 then moves to RR entrance]

The successful candidates are: Alexander Ingham Whitaker (Grayshott Hall) 120 votes; R. S. Gardner (Hatch House Farm) 115; George Bone (Bird's Nest Farm) 110; Rev W. H. Laverty (rector) 110; Miss Catherine I'Anson (Grayshott) 87; Albert J. Harding (Lindford) 79; Oliver Chapman (Grayshott) 78; Thomas Faulkner (Standford) 70; Thomas Carter (Eveley Gardens) 69; C. H. Beck (schoolmaster) 65; George Warren (Standford) 63; and Charles David (Headley Green) 57.

Next year, in 1895, the Headley Football Club started ... PA: 'Match of the Day' theme
and Headley nearly had its own railway, as the minutes of the Parish Council reveal ... [Narrator 1 then moves to one side]

"Having examined the plans of the proposed new railway called the Portsmouth, Basingstoke and Godalming Railway, we consider that such a railway would be of advantage to Headley parish, provided that there be a station within a mile of Headley Street. To all intents and purposes it is settled that the station is to be at Curtis Farm House or near thereto".

And from a Press report just a few years later:

Sat 23 Dec 1899: the latest stage in agitation for a bridge to replace the dangerous ford at Headley Mill has brought the wished-for structure well within the prospect of being built.... and we're still waiting!

It's the start of a new century. And the population has gone up a staggering 40% in ten years! What's going on?

Aha! I see Grayshott is expanding. But they're just about to split off and become a Parish on their own - so Headley's now back to just 1,831 - that's better!

On 4th August 1914 began the War to end all wars. PA: Sound of shells, gunfire, etc

Of the six hundred and nineteen men from the Parish who served in the First World War, ninety-six were to pay the supreme sacrifice.
[Narrator 1 then moves to one side]

1919 saw the start of the Girl Guides in the parish
and 1921 the start of the Women's Institute.

And in that year, another Bath chair was bought for parish use ...

... (ad lib again according to how the spirit moves!) [Narrator 2 then moves to the Village Hall float]

Feb. 1923 - The London papers had an account last December of the clever way PC Bundy saved the life of a kitten from a well on Beech Hill ...

The following is a report on the same incident from the official organ of the Swiss Union for the protection of animals:

'La vie d'un petit minet, tombé dans un puits profond, fut sauvée d'une manière remarquable. Après avoir essayé deux fois de rattraper le petit chat dans un seau; un 'policeman' attacha une corde à la chatte mère, et la fit descendre dans le puits; la dessus elle saisit le petit par le cou et le tint jusqu' à ce que tous les deux fussent mis en sûreté.' [Corné read this with English translation]

And in March of the same year, the Post Office announced that the official name of the Telephone Call Office recently established on Stone Hill was to be 'Headley Down'.

In December 1925, from Mr McAndrew of Headley Park we had the gift of a Village Hall, primarily for the use of the Women's Institute, but also for general purposes, and to him and Mrs. Perry and others who have provided the furnishing, etc., we owe a deep debt of gratitude. [Narrator 2 then moves to the Theatre Club float]

In 1921 the population was fast approaching 5,000!

But then ...

Oyez, oyez, oyez! Whitehill parish formed (1929) ... (ad lib, Steve White)

... take away Lindford, Bordon & Whitehill, and by 1931 Headley goes back below 2,000 - that's better!

During the Second World War, we paid host to many Canadian servicemen. There was a cultural education on both sides.

[Band can start setting up on stage after this]

There have been two previous village pageants. The first was in 1951 to celebrate the Festival of Britain, and this gave rise to Headley Theatre Club. A tradition of the Club since then has been to perform a pantomime each year, and their first offering in January 1953 was Robinson Crusoe. [Narrator 2 then moves to far entrance]

During the 1970s, there were pop groups living and recording in Headley, as those living nearby at the time can testify! In particular, Fleetwood Mac lived at Benifold, and Led Zeppelin recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' in Headley Grange, which had been the old Workhouse. [Brief riff from the Band if poss.]

And in 1971 the population is approaching 5,000 again - and this time, I fear, there's to be no escape!

During the 80s, The Headley Society was started, the Twinning Association with Corné was started ...

... and in 1987 a large party of parishioners were roused enough to travel to London and petition the Archbishop of Canterbury against the threat of building on the Rectory Field. [Narrator 2 then moves to the Parish Council float]

Ray Bower's Ode on the Saving of the Rectory Field ... [script not available here]

But where will the houses come next?

During the 1990s, the Holme School moved out of its original building ...

... and the Parish Council celebrated its centenary. [Narrator 2 then moves towards the stage]

Parish Council don long grey beards on their float

The last census in 1991 put us over 5,000 at last.

And today's population? Make sure you fill in that census form next year, and we'll know in time for the next Pageant!

Children - run round the front of the floats with blue cloth streaming behind them -
PA: river theme-Smetana's Moldau

And so, as today's schoolchildren take us back to the River where we began, we end our Pageant today. We hope you have enjoyed this brief look at the history of Headley.

Our thanks to all who have helped us bring it to life. And as the river runs away into the distance, we leave you now in rousing style - with the world-famous tune written here in Headley nearly thirty years ago ... and played by some who were Headley schoolchildren themselves in the past. I give you Slide and 'Stairway to Heaven'.

As the band starts 'Stairway to Heaven', the Narrators take their bow and leave.